U.S. patent number 4,381,846 [Application Number 06/214,977] was granted by the patent office on 1983-05-03 for refill with flexible mesh screen for liquid dispenser.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sani-Fresh International, Inc.. Invention is credited to Samuel C. Heck.
United States Patent |
4,381,846 |
Heck |
May 3, 1983 |
Refill with flexible mesh screen for liquid dispenser
Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing liquid with a specialized refill
including a flexible reservoir and mesh screen is disclosed. The
apparatus includes a housing; a flexible reservoir for storing the
liquid; disposed within the housing; a flexible tubular member
connected to the reservoir for selectively dispensing the liquid
from the reservoir; and, a flexible mesh screen disposed within
said reservoir. The flexible mesh screen produces a plurality of
flow channels between the reservoir material and the output orifice
of the reservoir to enable said liquid to continuously empty into
said tubular member. In a preferred embodiment, the screen is a
square screen with a side dimension at least equal to the diameter
of the output orifice at the bottom of the reservoir and is
fabricated from a plastic coated fiberglass material.
Inventors: |
Heck; Samuel C. (San Antonio,
TX) |
Assignee: |
Sani-Fresh International, Inc.
(San Antonio, TX)
|
Family
ID: |
22801142 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/214,977 |
Filed: |
December 10, 1980 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/105; 222/183;
222/464.1; 222/529; 222/564 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
77/067 (20130101); B65D 2231/002 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
77/06 (20060101); B65D 037/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/95,105,183,189,386.5,529 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rolla; Joseph J.
Assistant Examiner: Handren; Frederick R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Tobor; Ben D.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for dispensing liquid comprising:
a housing;
a reservoir for storing said liquid disposed within said
housing,
said reservoir having a fitment welded thereto for providing an
outlet port for said liquid;
a tubular member connected to said fitment, for selectively
dispensing said liquid; and
a mesh screen disposed in a first position freely suspended and
movable within the liquid in said reservoir, and upon the liquid
being dispensed from the reservoir, the mesh screen is freely
movable to a second position overlying the fitment and producing
flow channels between said reservoir and said fitment, for said
liquid to continuously empty into said tubular member.
2. An apparatus for dispensing liquid as set forth in claim 1
wherein said reservoir comprises a flexible plastic material.
3. An apparatus for dispensing liquid as set forth in claim 2
wherein said flexible material reservoir comprises a three-ply
plastic bag with each ply having a 0.002 inch thickness.
4. An apparatus for dispensing liquid as set forth in claim 1
wherein said fitment comprises a multi-tiered hard plastic annulus
extending from the said reservoir.
5. An apparatus for dispensing liquid as set forth in claim 1
wherein said tubular member is a flexible tubular member fabricated
from a latex material.
6. An apparatus for dispensing liquid as set forth in claim 1
wherein said tubular member further includes a dispensing ball
check valve assembly.
7. An apparatus for dispensing liquid as set forth in claim 1
wherein said mesh screen is a flexible plastic coated fiberglass
material.
8. An apparatus for dispensing liquid as set forth in claim 1
wherein said mesh screen has a circular configuration with a
diameter at least equal to the diameter of the fitment at the
bottom of said reservoir.
9. An apparatus for dispensing liquid as set forth in claim 1
wherein said mesh screen has a square configuration with a side
dimension at least equal to the diameter of the fitment at the
bottom of said reservoir.
10. A liquid dispenser having a flexible reservoir for storing said
liquid, said reservoir having a multi-tiered hard plastic annulus
extending therefrom and welded thereto providing an output orifice;
a flexible tubular member for selectively dispensing said liquid,
means for connecting said flexible tubular member to said annulus
for preventing leakage of said liquid from said reservoir; wherein
the improvement comprises a flexible mesh screen disposed in a
first position freely suspended and movable within the liquid in
said reservoir, and upon the liquid being dispensed from the
reservoir, the mesh screen is freely movable to a second position
overlying the annulus and producing flow channels between said
reservoir and said annulus for said liquid to continuously empty
into said flexible tubular member.
11. An apparatus for dispensing liquid comprising:
a housing;
a flexible reservoir for storing said liquid disposed within said
housing;
said flexible reservoir having a multi-tiered hard plastic annulus
extending therefrom and welded thereto providing an outlet
orifice;
a flexible tubular member connected to said annulus, for
selectively dispensing said liquid from said reservoir;
a tubular connection member having opposed first and second
extensions, said first extension adapted to connect into said
annulus and said second extension adapted to receive said flexible
tubular member; and
a flexible mesh screen disposed in a first position freely
suspended and movable within the liquid in said reservoir, and upon
the liquid being dispensed from the reservoir, the mesh screen is
freely movable to a second position overlying the annulus and
producing flow channels between said reservoir and said annulus,
for said liquid to continuously empty into said flexible
tubular.
12. A refill for an apparatus for dispensing liquid including a
flexible reservoir for storing said liquid, said reservoir having a
multi-tiered hard plastic annulus extending therefrom and welded
thereto for providing an outlet orifice; and a flexible mesh screen
disposed in a first position freely suspended and movable within
the liquid in said reservoir, and upon the liquid being dispensed
from the reservoir, the mesh screen is freely movable to a second
position overlying the annulus and producing flow channels between
said reservoir and said annulus, for enabling said liquid to
continuously empty from said reservoir.
13. A refill as set forth in claim 12 wherein said screen is
circular with a diameter at least equal to the diameter of the
outlet orifice at the bottom of said reservoir.
14. A refill as set forth in claim 12 wherein said screen is a
square having a side dimension at least equal to the diameter of
the outlet orifice at the bottom of said reservoir.
15. A refill as set forth in claim 12 wherein said flexible
reservoir is a three-ply plastic bag with each ply 0.002 inches in
thickness.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing a liquid and
more particularly to a refill for said apparatus utilizing a screen
to prevent blockage of liquid out of the dispenser.
Devices for selectively dispensing liquid materials are well-known
in the art. These dispensers come in a many different shapes and
sizes and are used in a variety of applications including the
dispensing of milk or juice in a food service environment, and the
dispensing of liquid soap in kitchens and restaurant
facilities.
One variety of these dispensers utilizes a flexible reservoir for
storing the liquid to be dispensed. The flexible reservoirs may be
bags made of plastic or other suitable materials.
There is a continuing problem of blockage in the output port of the
flexible reservoirs in these liquid dispensers. Since each of the
flexible reservoirs or plastic bags is provided with an opening for
allowing the discharge of the fluid, this opening must remain clear
for continual flow of the liquid out the opening. While the
flexible reservoir is well suited to the function of discharging
the fluid when in a substantially filled condition, a problem
arises in the discharge of the entire contents of the reservoir.
This problem may be attributed to the flexible material being
sucked into the outlet thus sealing off the flow of the liquid.
It has been found that in plastic bag reservoirs holding up to five
gallons of liquid to be dispensed, 8 to 20 ounces of the liquid
remain in the bag when the dispenser stops pumping due to the
flexible material blocking the output orifice.
Liquid dispensers utilizing a flexible reservoir are normally
provided with a tubular member connected to the reservoir and
extending exteriorly to the dispenser to provide access to the
liquid and thus enable dispensing the liquid in selected amounts.
After the flexible material is sucked into the output orifice, the
flexible tube will often collapse causing a vacuum effect and thus
enhancing the seal of the flexible reservoir material against the
output orifice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus of the present invention overcomes the blockage
problem in a flexible reservoir system.
In accordance with the present invention, a liquid dispenser of the
type utilizing a flexible reservoir system is provided. The
flexible reservoir is disposed within a housing and includes an
outlet port for purposes of discharging the stored liquid. The
outlet port is provided with a fitment in form of an annulus which
is welded to the flexible reservoir. The liquid dispenser is also
provided with a tubular member connected to the annulus for
selectively dispensing liquid. A mesh screen material is disposed
within the reservoir, producing flow channels between the reservoir
and the annulus enabling the liquid to continuously empty into the
tubular member for selective disposal.
In a preferred embodiment, the reservoir is a bag made of a soft
plastic such as polyurethane having a three-ply thickness with each
ply 0.002 inches in thickness. The tubular member in the preferred
embodiment is a flexible tubular member made of latex material. The
flexible tubular member is connected to the annulus by way of
tubular connection member fabricated of a hard plastic and adapted
to receive said flexible tubular member on one end and interconnect
into said annulus on the other end.
In the preferred embodiment, the screened mesh material is a
flexible plastic coated fiberglass screen having a diameter at
least equal to the diameter of the outlet port at the bottom of the
reservoir.
The flexible tubular member may further include a dispensing ball
check valve to assist in the selective disposal of the liquid out
of the flexible reservoir. The flexible screen may be circular in
shape having a diameter equal to the diameter of the outlet port at
the bottom of the reservoir. The screen may also have a square
configuration having its side dimension at least equal to the
diameter of the outlet port at the bottom of the reservoir. Any
material that can be formed into a screen mesh will be operable in
this environment but the material must be compatible with the
liquid to be dispensed, must not be capable of puncturing the
flexible reservoir, and must not have loose pieces to prevent
seating of the check valve in the tubular member.
The fitment welded to the flexible reservoir may be a multi-tiered
hard plastic annulus extending from the output orifice of the
reservoir, adapted to receive the tubular connection.
The presence of the flexible screen in the reservoir provides flow
channels between the fitment and the flexible reservoir material
when in an almost empty condition. This enables the remaining fluid
in the reservoir to be expelled into the flexible tubular member
and selectively dispensed thereafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the present invention may be found
in the detailed description of the invention hereinbelow, in
conjunction with the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a cutaway pictorial view of a liquid dispenser with the
flexible reservoir sealing off the fluid flow to the tubular
member;
FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a liquid dispenser having a flexible
reservoir in a filled state and flexible screen disposed therein in
accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3A is the liquid dispenser of FIG. 2 in an almost empty
state;
FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of the flexible screen providing flow
channels between the flexible reservoir and the output orifice;
and
FIG. 4 is a top view of the flexible screen over the output
orifice.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A specialized refill reservoir for storing liquid to be selectively
dispensed in an apparatus for dispensing liquid is provided by the
present invention. The flexible reservoir is provided with a screen
mesh material disposed within the reservoir thereby producing flow
channels between the reservoir and the reservoir output orifice to
allow for a continuous expulsion of liquid from the reservoir in
both substantially full and substantially empty states.
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 where
a liquid dispenser 10 is illustrated in pictorial form. The liquid
dispenser 10 in FIG. 1 is provided with a flexible reservoir 12
shown in an almost empty state. The liquid dispenser is further
provided with a fitment 14 welded into the flexible reservoir 12
which provides a circular outlet port as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4. A
tubular connection 16 is adapted to be connected into the fitment
14 and further adapted to receive a tubular member 18. The tubular
member 18 is provided with a ball check valve arrangement 20 for
selectively dispensing the fluid 22 stored in the reservoir 12. The
reservoir including fitment and bayonet may be disposed within a
housing 24 with the tubular member 18 extending from the housing to
allow access to the lower end 26 of the tubular member 18 for
dispensing the liquid 22.
The condition of the liquid dispenser reservoir 12 is in an almost
empty state whereby the material of the reservoir 12 is drawn into
the fitment 14 thereby sealing off the fluid 22.
The seal formed over the fitment 14 may be very strong and is
primarily a function of the flexibility of the material of the
reservoir which in the preferred embodiment may be three layers of
0.002 inch thick plastic. The seal further persists due to a vacuum
drawn by the tubular member 18 which has a tendency to collapse at
point 28 once the fitment 14 is sealed.
The liquid dispenser 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 also utilizes a
flexible reservoir 12 but is shown in a different condition than
the reservoir 12 in FIG. 1, that is, in a substantially filled
state. The reservoir 12 in FIG. 2 is also provided with a mesh
screen 30. The mesh screen is illustrated in FIG. 2 to be freely
suspended in the liquid 22. As the liquid is pumped out of the
reservoir, the screen 30 is naturally drawn toward the fitment 14
by the flow of the liquid 22.
The hydraulic head pressure in the reservoir 12 will continue to
separate the reservoir from the output orifice at fitment 14 until
the reservoir 12 reaches a substantially empty condition. The mesh
screen 30 is drawn to the fitment before the reservoir 12 reaches
this substantially empty condition, and will provide separation
between the reservoir 12 and the fitment 14 as illustrated in FIG.
3A.
Since the screen 30 must provide separation between the material of
the reservoir 12 and the fitment or outlet port 14, the screen must
have its smallest planar dimension at least equal to the diameter
of the outlet port or fitment 14 at the bottom of the container.
FIG. 3B illustrates the screen 30 in an enlarged view between the
material of the reservoir 12 and the fitment 14. The screen 30
allows the flow of the liquid 22 along the plane of the screen. Due
to the woven nature of the material of the screen 30, flow channels
32 are produced. The flow channels 32 allow the liquid to be
dispensed through the fitment 14.
As is seen in FIG. 3B, the material of the reservoir 12 cannot
completely conform to the texture of the screen 30, thereby
producing many small flow channels for the liquid to flow through
towards the tubular member 18 being propelled by a change in
pressure to atmospheric pressure.
FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the screen 30 over the fitment 14.
As the flow lines 34 indicate, the liquid may flow in a direction
parallel to the screen, perpendicular to the screen and diagonally
through the screen 30.
In a preferred embodiment, the screen is fabricated from a plastic
coated fiberglass material. Any material utilized in the
fabrication of the screen must be compatible with the liquid to be
dispensed. Further, the material must not be capable of puncturing
the reservoir 12 and further must not have loose strands that would
clog the seating of the ball check valve assembly 20 as shown in
FIG. 1.
The fitment 14 in the preferred embodiment is a multi-tiered
annulus extending from the reservoir 12 and welded thereto. The
annulus is adapted to receive one section of the tubular connection
16 as a means of connecting the reservoir 12 to the tubular member
18 which is sealably fit to the opposite end of the tubular
connection 16.
The geometrical shape of the screen 30 described above may be
circular or square, however, the diameter dimension or side
dimension respectively of the screen should be at least equal to
the diameter dimension of the outlet port or fitment 14 found at
the bottom of the reservoir 12.
While the invention has been described and illustrated with respect
to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled
in the art that many changes and modifications may be made that are
contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *